My May 2023 Reads
One of my best months in a long time…
Despite being super busy with end-of-the-year stuff at work, and in my master’s classes, May was a great month for me reading-wise. I tried out a new genre and consumed some books that will stay with me for a while!
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
This book ticked off a couple of firsts for me. While I’ve seen many of his movies, this was the first Stephen King novel I had actually read. It was also the first fantasy genre book I have ever read. I started on this book after reading some reviews. When I went to the Apple Books app on my iPhone, I saw I was able to download a “sample” that was three chapters in length.
Being as it was a genre I’d never read before, I figured I’d read the whole sample, and at the end of it, if I wanted to know more, I would go ahead and purchase the whole book. At 608 pages, it was also a VERY long book for someone who’s got a heavy grad school reading load to balance with my book habit! I was hooked at the end of the sample, and off I went!
The main character of this book is Charlie, a 17-year-old boy who helps and later befriends a curmudgeonly old man whose house just happens to also have a portal to another world in its garden shed. Mr. Bowditch dies and leaves Charlie both his house and his aging and ailing German Shepherd dog Radar. This was a very long book, and I’ve since learned that Stephen King is the master of the slow build. I swear I was halfway through before the book’s main character Charlie finally entered the portal in search of a way to save Radar. The good thing about that is by the time Charlie embarks on this adventure, we know him very well.
It was definitely an adjustment for me to read a fantasy book with all manner of mystical, magical creatures (both good and evil), but it just seemed to work in this story. Since finishing the book, I’ve looked at many other fantasy genre books and just not found another that I think I would like, so for now, I’ll stick to my favorite genres until another fantasy novel comes along that catches my interest.
Although it’s fantasy, the friendships and relationships Charlie develops in the mythical realm of Empis are quite real and forever change the person he will be when he returns to the “real world.” If you like King novels, or fantasy novels in general, this one is long…but I gave it a solid four stars.
Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo
I have been a James Patterson fan for many years, and earlier this year even listened to his audiobook memoir, so when I learned his wife, Susan Solie Patterson, had a book coming out, I actually pre-ordered it to ensure I got a copy ASAP.
I loved this book, and I really didn’t expect to. I’ve read countless James Patterson books and always enjoy them for an easy read. However, my biggest complaint is they are often a little too predictable.
This book by Susan Patterson was absolutely not predictable, and that’s what made me like it so much. It was a little hard for me to read at first, having just lost my own mother a couple of years ago. It brought back memories. I’d rather forget, but I’m glad that I stuck with it because it has an excellent message and a phenomenal plot twist that any mother or daughter would enjoy.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Okay, it’s June 2nd, and I just finished this book today, but I’m reviewing it with May as that’s when I did the lion’s share of the reading in May, and I just couldn’t wait to talk about it. This was a very thought-provoking book and funny at times, and I found it to be an all-around great read.
The first couple of chapters of this book had me wondering if I was going to like it or not. But Honeywell sprinkled in just enough tidbits about Eleanor’s past to keep me wanting to learn more. Then after a few chapters, I was hooked and stayed up way too late to read!
In many ways, we are all a little like Eleanor…we often squash down traumatic experiences we don’t want to deal with until we’ve no choice but to deal with them. More than once, this book made me stop and think about some traumatic experiences in my past…though thankfully, they were nothing like what Eleanor endured.
It was encouraging to see how, little by little, Eleanor opened up and allowed herself to build relationships with other people, and those relationships helped her make positive changes in her life.
Without giving any spoilers, this is DEFINITELY a book worth reading. Eleanor is quirky but kind-hearted, and Honeywell does a masterful job of developing her character throughout the course of the book. She also threw in some plot twists I NEVER expected! I gave this book a solid four stars.
I can’t make this up: Life Lessons by Kevin Heart (audiobook)
I have to admit I almost quit listening to this book after the first 30 minutes. But I’m glad that I persisted. While some of the things Kevin did and said in the book weren’t to my liking overall, I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed hearing how he persisted and overcame many challenges to have a successful career. If you are a Kevin Hart fan, this might be of interest to you. I rated it three stars.
Walking With Sam by Andrew McCarthy (audiobook)
What a great listen! I felt like I was walking the Camino right alongside Andrew and Sam. I must admit, as a Gen X-er who came of age in the 80s, I had a HUGE crush on Andrew McCarthy, and I watched him in ALL the Brat Pack movies repeatedly! But I actually found this book by accident when I stumbled across McCarthy’s Facebook page while searching for something else. I listened to a sample on Apple Books and was hooked. I loved that Sam actually helped with the narration and story.
Both Andrew and Sam are very open and frank about life experiences, and their conversations and experiences change throughout the course of the 500-mile walking journey. I won’t say more for fear of giving it away, but this was an excellent listen for anyone who was a fan of the Brat Pack and McCarthy in general, and it was nice to seem that I’m not the only one that’s not as spry and smooth as I was in the ‘80s!
What I Am Currently Reading:
Paper Names by Susie Luo
I just started this book today. This was my first “Book of the Month Club” pick, and it is a debut novel. The book is a multi-point-of-view book about a Chinese American family in New York. The father, Tony, emigrated to America with his wife to give their daughter Tammy a better life. Tammy is nine at the beginning of the book, and the book follows her into adulthood. We also hear the story from Oliver, a white lawyer who lives in the same apartment building where Tony works. A violent attack causes their lives to intersect and thus sets the premise for this novel.
I’m trying to read books about other diverse cultures, and this one really seems promising. I will keep you posted on my June update.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
This is another book that I started by reading the Apple Books sample. This book is narrated by two very different narrators, an elderly widow named Tova, who went to work as a janitor at the aquarium after her husband died, and Marcellus, a curmudgeonly Giant Pacific Octopus who is also an escape artist and resident at the aquarium. Apparently, the two develop a relationship that helps Tova deal with the disappearance of her son Erik over thirty years ago. This is another I am just getting started on, but being an animal lover and especially a lover of anything oceanic, I know this is a book I’m going to really enjoy.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (audiobook)
This is a memoir written and narrated by U2 lead singer Bono. It starts from the very beginning when the band members met just out of school. I’m enjoying it, but it is SUPER long, and it is one of those audiobooks I just can’t listen to for long periods of time. I’m currently an hour in, and there are still 16 hours left! This one will take a bit!
Summer Break 2023- Reading, Riding, and Coursework!
I’m off work for my summer break, so I hope to do a lot of reading while I am off. Of course, I am also taking summer classes in my Master’s program, so that will factor into things. I did, however, neglect my coursework the past couple of days as I was so into Eleanor Oliphant that I wanted to finish it! Now that I’m finished with that book, I need to be more disciplined and focus on my coursework first…and my TBR second! I also plan to do a little traveling and as much riding on my Harley as possible!
If you’ve recently read any great books, I would love to hear about them! If you are on Goodreads, I would love to connect with you. I’m always looking for more interesting books for my ever-expanding “to be read” list, so check out my Goodreads page here, and let’s be friends.
